Emergencies
A burst pipe or a flooding basement. The first five minutes decide how bad it gets.
Plumbing tips for Mahwah, NJ homes
Mahwah is the biggest township in the county, with subdivisions, townhouse complexes and wooded hill lots on wells and septic. Here is what plumbing looks like across that range, and how to find a licensed plumber.
Mahwah covers the northwest corner of Bergen County, from the Route 17 corridor up into the Ramapo Mountains. Its housing is spread out: 1950s and 1960s ranches and splits in the older sections, larger colonials from the 1970s onward in the subdivisions, townhouse complexes from the 1980s and 1990s, and older and newer houses on wooded hill lots that never got public water or sewer.
What the houses have
- Copper supply pipe in the older houses and plastic in the newer ones. Pinholes in copper are more common here than in the flat part of the county, because the well-sourced water is harder and more mineral-laden.
- Cast iron drains in the 1950s and 1960s houses, at the age of failure, and plastic in everything after.
- Softeners and filters. Much of the township's water, municipal and private, is hard enough that softeners are common, and iron filters are common in the hills. Each needs salt or media and an annual check.
- Long runs and multiple zones. The larger houses have hot water that takes a minute to arrive and heating zones that fail one at a time. Both are normal, and both have fixes.
- Pressure tanks and pumps on the well houses. Rapid cycling means the tank has lost its air charge; no water means the pump, its switch or a frozen line.
Wells and septic
The hill sections are on private wells and septic. Test the well yearly for bacteria and nitrates and every few years for metals and hardness. Pump the septic tank every two to three years, keep the leach field clear of anything heavier than a lawn mower, and never put grease, wipes or softener backwash into it.
Winter
Mahwah is the coldest part of the county and the most exposed. Pipe in crawl spaces, garages and outside walls freezes here when it would not in Hackensack. Insulate it, drain the hose bibs, and if the house will be empty, keep the heat on and open the cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls.
Water and sewer
The township's water department serves the built-up areas from its own wells, and the water is harder than the regional utility's. Sewer covers the same areas; beyond them, septic.
When you need a professional
Plumbers in Mahwah work under a New Jersey master plumber license, which is verifiable online. The Find a plumber page opens a search near Mahwah and explains the check. For well pumps and septic, ask whether the plumber does that work directly.
Plumbing topics for Mahwah
Clogs and drains
Kitchen sinks, tubs, toilets and the old sewer lines under many Bergen County streets.
Hot water
Looking after a water heater, and knowing when it has reached the end.
Steam and hot water heat
Older Bergen County houses often have radiators. They are simple systems once you understand them.
Kitchen and bath fixes
The small repairs that save a service call, with honest notes on how hard each one is.
Upkeep and hiring
Seasonal checks, and how to hire a plumber in New Jersey without regretting it.
Common questions
My Mahwah water leaves orange stains and a rotten-egg smell. What is it?
Iron and, for the smell, hydrogen sulfide, both common in well water in the Ramapos and in some municipal well water too. Iron stains fixtures and laundry; the smell often comes from the water heater's anode rod reacting with the water. An iron filter treats the water; a different anode rod usually cures the smell. Test first so you treat the right thing.
Who maintains the plumbing in my townhouse complex?
Inside the unit, you do. The association usually owns the pipe from the street to the unit and any shared lines, plus the exterior. The master deed and the association's rules set the line, and it varies between complexes, so read yours before a dispute rather than during one.
Need a professional?
When it is more than a quick fix, search for plumbers near your town and verify the New Jersey license in a minute.